Experimental characterisation of the weld pool expansion in a tungsten inert gas configuration

In this study, we focus on the expansion of the weld pool in a welding process by tungsten inert gas (TIG). Use of high-speed imaging and metallographic investigations combined with electrical measurements allow us to determine the weld pool shape and dimensions evolution and the energy involved in the process for six durations of interaction (from 1 to 20?s) in a spot TIG configuration. Results show a fast increase of the weld dimensions on the first second. Otherwise, time does not seem to be an influent parameter on the weld shape. The comparison between experimental work and numerical model available in our team highlights differences between the predicted shapes and the observed ones.     

Supervised descent method for weld pool boundary extraction during fiber laser welding process

In order to obtain a high-quality weld during the laser welding process, extracting the characteristic parameters of weld pool is an important issue for automated welding. In this paper, the type 304 austenitic stainless steel is welded by a 5kW high-power fiber laser and a high-speed camera is employed to capture the topside images of weld pools. Then we propose a robust visual-detection approach for the molten pool based on the supervised descent method. It provides an elegant framework for representing the outline of a weld pool and is especially efficient for weld pool detection in the presence of strong uncertainties and disturbances. Finally, welding experimental results verified that the proposed approach can extract the weld pool boundary accurately, which will lay a solid foundation for controlling the weld quality of fiber laser welding process.     

活性MAG焊电弧特征及熔池流动分析

提出了活性熔化极气体保护焊新方法,可增加焊接熔深,改善难熔焊接结构的熔合不良,获得高质量的焊接接头.对活性熔化极气体保护焊电弧状态和熔池表面形态进行了采集和分析,用钨粒子示踪法进行试验,分析了电弧形态和熔池流动.结果表明,活性熔化极气体保护焊电弧收缩显著,电弧形态更加集中,熔池内部液态金属的流动方向为从熔池周边向中心流动,熔池流动更为有序.对于钢的活性熔化极气体保护焊方法,熔池流动行为改变是增加焊接熔深的主要因素.     

基于实际熔敷形状的旋转电弧传感器数学模型

旋转电弧传感器数学模型是提高焊接质量、旋转电弧信号处理和焊缝偏差提取的理论基础, 焊接熔敷金属堆积形状是决定旋转电弧长度主要因素之一,影响其数学模型精确度. 采用双线结构光传感系统对焊接收弧阶段焊缝进行三维重建获得焊接熔池熔敷形状,运用单纯形法最优化电弧长度,在此基础上建立了旋转电弧传感器数学模型及仿真模型. 结果表明,该数学模型相对于假设的三角锥熔敷形状数学模型,消除了焊接过程工件变形引起的电流信号误差,减小了焊缝转角和焊缝偏差检测误差,提高了旋转电弧传感器数学模型精度.     

Vision based neurofuzzy logic control of weld pool geometry

Abstract

The geometry of the weld pool contains accurate, instantaneous information about welding quality. Thus, weld pool sensing and control plays a significant role in automated arc welding. Previous studies have focused on inferring penetration through models and controlling penetration by various methods, such as adaptive control, model based fuzzy logic, etc. In the present work, a weld pool imaging system employing a LaserStrobe (tradename) high shutter speed camera is used to obtain contrasting images and eliminate arcing interference. Two image processing tools based on edge detection and connectivity analysis extract online information about the weld pool length and width. A neurofuzzy control system elicited from both human experience and experimental results has been developed to control the welding current and welding speed in real time based on changes in weld pool dimensions. Closed loop control of welding speed is used to achieve desirable weld pool geometry.     

The weld pool region of welded cast metal-matrix ceramic-particulate composites

The successful application of ceramic-particulate reinforced metal matrix composites as engineering materials requires that they be amenable to fabrication by joining processes such as welding. In such a case, the weld pool would undergo intense agitation during welding and the ceramic particulates would tend to segregate, causing deterioration in the mechanical and wear properties of the joined portion. In the present work, a thermo-physical model has been used to predict the velocities of fluid movement in the weld pool as a function of heat input. An attempt has been made to combine analytical and numerical methods in order to ensure the accuracy of the model's predictions and at the same time to make the computation faster. Aluminium-alumina and aluminum-silicon carbide composites were prepared by casting and the resultant plates of standard dimensions and thicknesses were welded using the MIG process. The distribution of the ceramic particulates and their reaction with the matrix in the welded zone were determined using metallographic and SEM techniques. The distribution was then simulated from the fluid flow velocities obtained by the model developed by the authors. A good correlation was seen between the intensity of molten metal velocities and the particle distribution. Particle pushing and engulfment by the solidifying melt interface also appeared to be affecting the particle distribution in the weld zone.     

Vision-based detection of MAG weld pool

Weld pool contains significant information about the welding process. The weld pool images of MAG welding are detected by LaserStrobe system. An algorithm for extracting weld pool edge is proposed according to the characteristics of MAG weld pool images. The maximum weld pool length and width are calculated. The measurement data can be used to verify the results of welding process simulation and to provide a good foundation for automatic control of MAG welding process.     

Electromagnetic nature of the movement of liquid metal in the weld pool

The electromagnetic nature of movement of liquid metal in a weld pool is discussed. When increasing the welding speed as a result of decreasing the induction of the magnetic field at the back of the arc and increasing the electromagnetic force directed forward and reducing the size of the active arc spot, the speed of movement of the liquid metal increases in welding in the direction from the current supply and rapidly in welding towards the current supply. This confirms the electromagnetic nature of formation of undercutting. A method is described for high-speed one-sided welding with a compound electrode in which the active spot of the arc becomes larger, the arc and liquid metal of the pool move forward, the electromagnetic forces directed downwards in the area of the side edges of the pool decrease, and the resultant welded joint is of high quality without undercutting, the reverse bead forms on a flux cushion and the impact toughness of welded joints increases.     

Determining penetration from topside weld bead and weld pool geometry in PGMAW

Abstract

Finding suitable characteristic parameters of topside weld pool to reflect the penetration is a key work in weld shape control. In this paper, by analysing the molten metal volume, the relationship between topside weld bead shape and penetration in pulsed gas metal arc welding (PGMAW) is revealed, and then several weld bead characteristic parameters (WBCPs) are proposed to determine the penetration. However, these WBCPs are difficult to be obtained in real time, because continuous solidifying of weld pool forms the weld bead, and the WBCPs can be reflected by the weld pool geometry. Therefore, some weld pool characteristic parameters (WPCPs) are proposed to replace the WBCPs. Furthermore, a visual system is established and a series of image processing arithmetics are developed to extract the WPCPs.     

Study on heat source model in twin-arc GMAW with a common weld pool

The heat input from arcs to weld pool in twin-arc gas metal arc welding (GMAW) with a common weld pool is investigated by high-speed photography. The characteristics of arc shapes and droplet transfer are studied and then the models for heat flux distribution on top surface of weld pool and enthalpy distribution of metal droplets transferred into weld pool are established. By using the model, 3-D geometries of weld pools in twin-arc GMAW with a common weld pool are predicted. Corresponding welding experiments on mild steel plates are carried out and the results indicate that the predicted shape of weld bead on cross section shows good agreement with measured one.     

Mathematical analysis of the role of recoil pressure in weld pool dynamics during laser-MIG hybrid welding

A mathematical model was established to simulate the weld pool development and dynamic process in stationary laser-MIG hybrid welding. Surface tension and buoyancy were considered to calculate liquid metal flow patter, moreover, typical phenomena of MIG welding, such as filler droplets impinging weld pool, electromagnetic force in the weld pool, and typical phenomena of laser beam welding, such as recoil pressure, Inverse Bremsstrahlung absorption, Fresnel absorption were all considered in the model. The laser beam and arc couple effect were introduced into this model by the plasma width during hybrid welding. The role of recoil pressure in the weld formation was discussed. Transient weld pool shape and complicated liquid metal velocity distribution from two kinds weld pool to an unified weld pool were calculated. The simulated weld bead geometry with consideration recoil pressure was in good agreement with experimental measurement.     

Mathematical model and simulation of partial penetrated weld pool

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Study of the law between the weld pool shape variations with the welding parameters under two TIG processes

A double-shielded TIG method was proposed to improve weld penetration and has been compared with the traditional TIG welding method under different welding parameters (i.e., speed, arc length and current). The strength of the Marangoni convection was calculated to estimate the influence of the welding parameters on the variations in weld pool shapes. The results show that the changes in the welding parameters directly impact the oxygen concentration in the weld pool and the temperature distribution on the pool surface. The oxygen content and heat distribution on the weld pool surface are determinants of the pattern and strength of the Marangoni convection. For a negative temperature coefficient of surface tension (∂σ/∂T < 0), an outward Marangoni convection leads to a wide and shallow weld pool shape. The narrow and deep weld pool shape occurs when the Marangoni convection flows along an inward direction (∂σ/∂T > 0). The oxide layer that may appear with the relatively high oxygen content in the weld pool is harmful for the heat flow along the pool surface so as to reduce the welding efficiency especially in the double shielded TIG process.     

Numerical analysis of weld pool geometry in pulsed current plasma arc welding

Numerical analysis of weld pool shape and size is of great significance for selection and optimization of the process parameters in pulsed current plasma arc welding (PAW). In this paper, a mathematical model and relevant algorithm are developed to determine the temperature profiles and weld pool geometry in pulsed current PAW through employing an adaptive heat source model. The volumetric heat source consists of semi-ellipsoid at upper part and a conic body at lower part along the workpiece thickness direction. The dynamic variation features of weld pool shape during a pulse cycle are numerically simulated. The calculated weld cross-section is consistent with the measure one.     

TIG焊接过程中熔池对流形式的示踪分析

为验证传统钨极惰性气体保护焊接过程和双层气流保护焊接过程的熔池表面对流形式,确定双层气流保护焊接方法的熔池深度增加机理,试验研究以钨颗粒为示踪相,焊前将300～500μm的钨颗粒均匀涂覆于焊件表面,同时在熔池底部两侧插入钨板,将焊接熔池中心区域和边缘区域阻隔开.传统钨极惰性气体保护焊接方法在熔池表面产生外向对流,钨颗粒...     

Weld pool boundary and weld bead shape reconstruction based on passive vision in P-GMAW

A passive visual sensing system is established in this research, and clear weld pool images in pulsed gas metal arc welding （ P-GMA W） can be captured with this system. The three-dimensional weld pool geometry, especially the weld height, is not only a crucial factor in determining workpiece mechanical properties, but also an important parameter for reflecting the penetration. A new three-dimensional （3D） model is established to describe the weld pool geometry in P-GMAW. Then, a series of algorithms are developed to extract the model geometrical parameters from the weld pool images. Furthermore, the method to reconstruct the 3 D shape of weld pool boundary and weld bead from the two-dimensional images is investigated.     

焊接现场脉冲GTAW熔池图像动态检测

通过熔池的动态观测可以获得焊接过程的稳定性和连续性等信息.熔池的动态观测目前基本上停留在试验室阶段,焊接现场对熔池进行观测在改进工艺和指导生产等方面更具意义.针对焊接现场焊接电源不能修改,非计算机可控,电流电压波形未知等问题,在焊接现场建立了一套焊接熔池图像动态检测系统.根据焊接现场脉冲GTAW的特点,采用"外同步取像"方式确定了焊接现场取像的关键制约因素--取像时刻;并利用电弧光谱分析建立了减小弧光干扰的复合滤光系统;在适合的取像时刻,CCD摄像系统配合复合滤光系统,在焊接现场检测到了清晰的熔池图像.     

基于示踪粒子的摆动TIG填丝焊熔池行为数值分析

为了使TIG焊熔池液态金属分布更加均匀,在普通TIG填丝焊的基础上,研究焊枪摆动对熔池行为的影响.建立了焊枪摆动的TIG填丝焊的数学模型,并利用示踪粒子的方法,对比普通TIG填丝焊和摆动TIG填丝焊的熔池温度场、流场及熔滴质量分布.结果表明,普通TIG填丝焊与摆动TIG填丝焊熔池轮廓基本一样,但摆动TIG焊通过摆动电弧,导致熔池内流场行为发生了改变,进而影响了温度场的分布,使熔池内温度分布更加均匀;示踪粒子分布表明,在TIG填丝焊中,摆动TIG填丝焊能够使熔滴金属更加均匀的分布在熔池中.     

Modeling the radiometric imaging process of weld pool

In the vision monitoring or controlling the arc welding process, it is a prerequisite to get a clear image of weld pool. However, the disturbance of arc radiation makes imaging of weld pool difficult and optical filters are usually used to improve the image quality. In this paper, a radiometric imaging model is established to investigate the influence of the filter on the image quality of the weld pool, in which the spectral distribution of weld pool radiation, the spectral transmittance of the filter, the spectral sensitivity of the camera are all considered. With the proposed model, the influence of the factors on weld pool imaging can be inferred and the selection of optical filters is discussed.     

Three-dimensional turbulent weld pool convection in gas metal arc welding process

Abstract

A three-dimensional model has been developed to study turbulent fluid flow and heat transfer in a gas metal arc weld pool. The phase change process during melting and solidification is modelled using the enthalpy–porosity technique. Mass and energy transports by droplet transfer are considered through a thermal analysis of the electrode. The droplet heat addition into the molten pool is considered to be in the form of a volumetric heat source distributed in an imaginary cylindrical cavity within the weld pool ('cavity' model). A two-equation k-&epsi; model capable of addressing turbulent weld pool convection, taking into account the morphology of the phase change, is presented. The weld pool dynamics and geometry (shape and size) in a moving gas metal arc welding (GMAW) process are studied and the effects of enhanced diffusivities on the turbulent weld pool are discussed. The predicted weld pool geometry using laminar and turbulent models is also compared with corresponding experimental post-weld sections.